The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-26
READING FOR THE DAY.
sn,a.v-scboo, Lesson for July 3, 1887.



supdav-sohooi Lesson for July 3, 1887
THE INFANT JEsus-Matt. ii. liz
Golden Text--Thou shalt call his name Jesus TOT
he shall save his people from their shs-"AOl' -
l. The Wise Men, " !, 2.-These early trav-
elers from the East arrest attention. ana
awaken a peculiar interest from their conne''
ton with this lesson story. Three auesUons
arise in our minds: IL Who were they' u }
When dad these events occurl 49, Why did
they come to Judeal These worthy OF care
full attention. l. Whoi Matthew tells US in a
word-Magi. As the word Mandarin points
surely to China. and Brahmn 10 India, SO Maei
points TO Persia These wise men'-Magi or
Magians would be the better designation
came from 1.-THE far east" They were
learned men, and probably priests in their own
| country. They were men or reverent sprrlt-
| the truth seekers of their generation. Insse
were earnest, sincere, humble. devout souls
representatives of the truth loving gentle worl1
which was long before promised TO the messiah
| for his inheritance. 2 Wheni TWO notes OF
| time are given though one of these is determin-
| alive of the other. 1t when Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of Judea;" the date from
| which all modern chronology starts. This event
| occurred ''in the DAYS of Herod, the king "a
| vague reference, if there were not otner
data by which the precise time could be ascer-
! tanned The reign of Herod began Is. {. 40 aud
| ended B. c. 4. The visit of these Mael occurred
| in the last year of his reign. B. Whyf A gen.
eral expectation Of the advent of soma noteo
ruler pervaded the entire eastern world. IN
''Ihe far east" a strange light has appeared In
the sky which these wise men had interpreted as
a token of the advent of the expected king. LED
by this star, they had made the long pllgrimase
to Judea that they might worship Him VINO
'born king of the Jews TO whom ROYALTY
was a birthricht and homage natural tribute.
THE perusal of General Low Wallsce's book
ben Hur," will be of benefit to teachers ana
scholars in this connection.
IL The Troubled King W 3-S.-The Idumean
despot who ruled in Judea was troubled
when he heard OF the coming and inquiry OF
these strangers; and 'all Jerusalem shared his
uneasiness. He feared Instruction, doubtless;
the people feared the tumult and devastation
which would follow. Jealousy lay back OF
Herods unrest; he feared for the stability OF his
throne if new claimant for dominion had arisen
among the Jews. 1t was the natural fear or an
alien, intensified by cruel and suspicious
nature Hastily summonng the Sanhedrim, he de-
manded of them what their sacred books said con-
corning the birth place of the Christ" They were
at no loss for answer. Micah had pointed out
Bethlehem as the town of honor more than
seven centuries before: and these scribes could
point to Christ, who themselves would not 60
whore they pointed. The crafty King then sum
moned the Magi to secret interview, and
learned with exactness what time they first saw
the star which had so strangely guided them.
From this he would infer really the age of the
child He then told them that Bethlehem was
the place of the nativity, and hade thsm. when
they had found the King, to bring him word.
that he also might come and pay homage. His
craft eoualed his cruelty; his religion was but a
convenient cloak for murderous designs.
Ill The Honored Child, v. 9-12.-With
quickened pace the Magi departed on their jour
ney; when suddenly, to their surprise and de-
light, 1.-THE star which they saw in the east" re-
appeared and guided their way until 1t came to
rest Bethlehem-perhaps over the very
house in which the young child was. How
could the star thus have guided them had IL
been a conjunction of planets2 The theory
be maintained only at the expense of the mar
rative. What wonder that. "when they
the they reioiced with exceeding great
joyl" Their long journey it's
end their expectations near 10 realization; the
gathered hopes of many years ripening to frui
ton. They found the house, they found the
child; they 'feli down and worshiped Him"
first of the long train of all nations to do II i'm
homage who is the Light of the world, and the
Desire of every devout heart. They then
opened their treasures and brought forth rich
gifts as their offerlngs-'gold. and frankircense,
and myrrh"-offerings worthy of king, and eX-
pressive of a homage as true as 1t was devout
Were these gifts Gods provision against the
fight into Egypt, SO soon to GOMEZ
The Magi had been requested by Herod to
turn to Jerusalem with tidines of their discovery;
but God frustrated the Kings murderous de-
signs. He warned the wise men in dream; is
not this evidence that they were Godfearing
menl-and they, needing the divine command
returned by another route TO their own country,
leaving Herod to solve his perplexity by some
other agents while they bore away sweet and
tender memories of the newborn King.